Machine for topping and cleaning onion-sets.



J. R'. DIMIGK. v'MACHINE PUB. TOPPING AND CLEANING UNION SETS.

l 'D PLIGATION FILED nR.1,19o9. 936,224. Y y 1 Patented o@n.5,19o9,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WJTNESSES.-

' INVENTOR J' E" D/'mwf l BY e may items ANDREW. B. GRAHAM eo. PMOm-LITHDGRAMERS. wlswnafon. D. t.

'JL R. DIMIQK... fx, v Y

MACHINE ron TOPPING AND @sign SETS.

J. R. DIMIGK. MAUHIN FOR TOPPING AND ULEANING ONON SETS. APPLIOATION FILED MAR.16,1909.

` 936,224. y Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mnniw, a. mnu-1m om Pnowumnamwnzns. wAsHmaw-N. o. c,

J. R. DIMICK. MACHINE FOR TOPPING AND CLEANING ONION SETS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.16,1909.

936,224. Patented on.5,19o9.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Ammiw4 s. GRAHAM cn. Pwra-Lmcoaumins. wAsHlNGmN, n. c.

entre stares PATENT QFFQQE.

JOHN R. DIMICK, OF SALEM, OREGON.

MACHINE FOR TOPPING AND CLEANING- ONION-SETS.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN R. Dutton, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Marion and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Topping and Cleaning Onion-Sets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for topping and cleaning onion sets and my object is to provide a device of this class which will separate the bunches of sets and remove the dead stalks therefrom.

A further object is to provide means for passing the sets over a grating, whereby the stalks and chaff occasioned by separating the sets will pass into a separate compartment from the sets, and a still further object is to provide means for collecting the chaff, etc. and remove the same from the machine.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the topping and cleaning device, complete. Fig. 2 is a similar view from the opposite side of the machine, and, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central sectional view through the machine. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 and 2 indicate standards, which standards are mounted on a suitable base 3 and are arranged in pairs, the upper ends of the standards being connected together by suitable frame pieces 1.

Slidably mounted between the standards 1 and 2 is a frame 5, the 'lower edges of the side walls of said frame having track ways G thereon, which track ways are adapted to engage bearing rollers 7 rotatably mounted on the standards, said frame being adapted to move longitudinally over said rollers.

Extending from wall to wall of the frame 5 and from end to end thereof is a floor 8, a portion of which is provided with slots 9 to form ribs 10, over which the onion sets are adapted to pass, the slots 9 affording a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 16, 1909.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

serial no. isspva passage for the chaff, etc., occasioned by separating the onion sets, while the sets themselves pass to the lower end of the floor 8, where they are discharged into any suitable receptacle.

rlhe frame and floor 8 are placed at an incline so that the sets will readily pass from the upper to the lower end of the frame, the upper end of the frame having flanges 11 surrounding the same to form a hopper 12, into which the sets in their original state are deposited and immediately above the hopper are positioned a plurality of beaters 13, the lower ends of which are covered with shields 14, preferably of rubber, or like pliable material, so that when the beaters are moves into engagement with the sets, said sets will not be mashed or otherwise mutilated by the beaters.

The beaters 13 are mounted in cross bars 15, which cross bars are carried by the arms 16, the inner ends of said arms being hingedly secured to a bar 17 carried by a rack 18 and said arms and parts carried thereby are raised and lowered by attaching the cranked portion 19 of a crank shaft 2O to bearings 21, on said arms, the shaft 2O being in turn rotatably mounted in bearings 22 on the standards 1, the rotation of said shaft forcing the beaters 18 into engagement with the sets in the hopper.

The rack 18 is slidably mounted on bearing rollers 23 and 2-1, which are carried by the post-s 1 and 2 and is moved longitudinally by the action of the arms 16, said rack being provided with a plurality of cross bars 25, each of which is provided with a plurality of depending teeth 26, on the lower ends of which are arranged shields 27,

the teeth being adapted to move the separated sets along the floor 8 and over the ribs 10, the forward end set of teeth being attached to a pivoted bar 28 of said rack, so that when the rack is moved toward the hopper 12, the bar 28 will tilt and permit the teeth to pass over the sets, but will immediately swing to a vertical position when the rack is moved in the opposite direction, the swinging movement of the bar being limited in one direction by means of tongues 29, which tongues are fixed to the pivoted bar 28 and extend over and engage parts of the rack 18. The teeth attached to the cross bar 25 are fixed in a vertical position and are adapted to agitate the sets as they move toward the lower end of the floor 8, thereby separating the sets from the chafl', etc., and forcingl the chaff through the slots between the ribs` i0, while the sets are moved to the lower end of the floor, and as the beaters are given a raking movement well as a pounding motion, the beaters in their lowered position moving toward the rack 18, the sets will be constantly fed into engagement with the rack.

The frame 5 is moved longitudinally by means of a pitman 30, one end of which is pivotally secured to a crank arm 3l on the shaft 20, while the opposite end thereof is pivotally secured to a crank arm 32 on a snaft 33, said shaft having cranked portions 34, to which are pivotally secured pitmen 35, the opposite ends of said pitmen being hingedly secured to a chaff board 36 arranged between the walls of the frame 5, the pitmen 30 and 85 and the crank arms 3l and 82 being so arranged that the shaft 33 will be rocked back and forth while the shaft 2O makes a complete revolution. The chaff board 36 is so inclined as to direct the particles falling thereon into a receptacle 37, the bottom 38 of the receptacle being likewise inclined toward one end of the receptacle, at which end is rpositioned a suction fan 39, which adapted to collect the chaff, etc., from the receptacle and discharge the same at a point a distance from the machine through any suitable form of conduit pipe 4:0.

A shaft .tl rotatably mounted below the frame 5 and has at one end thereof a belt wheel 4t2, while at the opposite end of the shaft lll is secured a balance wheel 43, which balance wheel also serves as a belt wheel for a belt ta, said belt also passing around a pulley 4.5, attached to the shaft carrying the fan 39 and by which means the fan is driven, while the shaft 2O and parts connected thereto are driven by attaching to the shaft 4:1 a sprocket 4:6, around which and a similar sprocket la7 on the shaft 20, extends a sprocket chain 4S.

ln operation, the onion sets, in their original condition, are deposited in the hopper l2, when the machinery is started by applying power to the belt wheel 42, this operation directing the beaters into engagement with the sets placed in the hopper, which will result in separating the bunches into single sets and at the same time reducing the stalk upon which the sets grow, into small particles, so that as the sets are gradually moved toward the lower end of the floor S, the husks or chad and particles of the stalk will descend between the ribs and be carried away by the fan 39, while the sets will be carried beyond the receptacle 37 and deposited directly upon the fioor or into any suitable receptacle.

It will thus be seen that l have provided an efficient and durable means for separating and cleaning the onion sets and one wherein the sets will not be mutilated or otherwise destroyed while being so treated and it will likewise vbe seen that I have provided convenient means for `removing the chaff, etc. from the sets and conveying the same to any suitable discharge point.

lVhat I claim is:

l. A machine of the class described, comprising the combination with standards; of

`rack longitudinally.

2. A machine of the class described, comprising the combination with a movable frame having a floor therein, a hopper at one end of said frame, a rack slidably mounted above the frame, teeth carried by the rack adapted to extend into said frame and in juxtaposition to said floor, a plurality of beaters above said floor, pivoted arms carrying said beaters, means to swing said arms upwardly and downwardly and move the beaters into engagement with the `contents of the hopper, the movement of said arms moving the rack longitudinally, vmeans to move the frame longitudinally, ribs in said floor between which `particles of the contents of the floor may be passed and means to gather and convey said particles to a distance from the machine.

3. A machine of the class described, comprising the combination with a slidably mounted frame having a floor therein, said floor being provided with ribs and a hopper at one end of said frame; of a plurality of beaters adapted to engage and disintegrate the contents `of the hopper, arms carrying said beaters, a rack having fingers adapted to engage and agitate the particles on said floor, said arms being secured to the rack and means to operate said beaters and move the frame and rack longitudinally.

t. A machine of the .class described, comprising the combination with a frame having a floor therein; of a slidably mounted rack, teeth depending from said rack, flexible shields on said teeth, a plurality of beaters, arms carrying said beaters, means to hingedly secure the arms to the rack, shields on said beaters and means to swing said arms upwardly and downwardly and to move the beaters into contact with the hopper contents, the action of said arms moving said rack longitudinally, and means to move said frame longitudinally.

tudinally, a pivoted bar arranged at the forward end of said frame, said bar being provided with a set of depending teeth, and having an overhanging stop at its rear edge.

1n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN R. DIMICK. Vitnesses:

XV. W. ZINN,

LELA WHITLocK. 

